With one holiday under our ever-expanding belts, get out your family calendar and highlight some of the best family-friendly holiday parties and parades coming right down Santa Claus Lane. We've got the oh-so-Florida tradition of brightly decorated boats parading down the waterways, to Florida kids playing in snow — quickly before it melts.

These are the highlights, but see t ampbay.com/holiday for hundreds of holiday events, shows and concerts.

SANTA PARADES AND FESTIVALS

• Snowfest and Santa Parade: Begins 10 a.m. Dec. 3 at Central Avenue and Fifth Street and ends at Straub Park where 65 tons of snow are blown in for kids to play in. $5 wristband for some activities.

• Tampa's Santa Fest and Christmas Parade: Begins 11 a.m. Dec. 3 at Pierce Street and Madison Street and ends at Curtis Hixon Park, where the party continues with crafts, games and entertainment.

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens: The theme park's extended-hours select nights begin this weekend with more than 2 million twinkling lights for Christmas-themed entertainment and special treats. New this year is the cast of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, on hand for pictures. 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday for now; nightly starting Dec. 16. Busch Gardens, 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa. Included with admission. $99, $79 for ages 3-9. Toll-free 1-888-800-5447. buschgardens.com.

Christmas in the Wild: The Lowry Park Zoo has a new holiday party opening this weekend with carolers, costumed characters, performers, a Christmas tree, holiday treats, music and photo opportunities with Santa and his elves. 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday for now; nightly starting Dec. 16. Included with admission, or you can pay $21.95 after 4 p.m. on event days; 2 and younger free. Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. (813) 935-8552. lowryparkzoo.com.

Snow Days: Dec. 26-31, kids can play with real snow in the play area at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Included with admission: $24.95, $22.95 seniors, $19.95 ages 3-12, 2 and younger free. Prices are generally about $2 cheaper if you buy them at flaquarium.org.

TAMPA — Maria Carla Fleitas couldn’t make it to the mirror before she started tearing up.Fleitas, 17, had just picked out a blush, A-line, floor-length gown for her senior prom next month at Leto High School. She walked to the mirror to inspect the d...

ST. PETERSBURG — A teenage orphan comes under the spell of a wealthy older man. Without him she faces a life of servitude, either underemployed as a servant or a vessel for producing children. Thanks to his helping hand, she grows in confidence and s...

The Bodyguard: R&B artist Deborah Cox reprises the role that Whitney Houston made famous in the hit film. 7:30 p.m., Carol Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. $39 and up. (813) 229-7827.Mike and the...

Events23 FridayBeginning Birding with Audubon: Learn to identify birds at feeders and during a short walk. Binoculars and field guides available to use. All skill levels and ages welcome. Text to RSVP. 8 a.m. Free. Chinsegut Conservation Center, 2321...

FestivalsLand O’ Lakes Music Festival: The annual festival, hosted by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, will be from noon to 8 p.m. March 24 at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The music lineup includes Solar Exposure, saxop...

Gasparilla International Film Festival: More than 100 shorts, films and documentaries will be screened at Centro Ybor starting Tuesday. Friday night, Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero of The Room will attend the premiere of their new film Best F(r)iends,...

RIVERVIEW — The Showmen’s Riverfest kicks off at 5 p.m. on Thursday (March 22) and runs through March 25 at the Showmen’s Club, 6915 Riverview Drive. The event will feature midway rides, food, fun and family time. Admission and parking is free while ...

RIVERVIEW — Maryanne Freeman spent many years as a military wife and doting mother of three.Never did she imagine she would spend her later years as an award-winning artist in the local circuit. To keep her children entertained during her husband’s d...